Andrew Copp
Andrew Copp is an American professional ice hockey centre for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Born on July 8, 1994, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he measures 6 feet 1 inch in height and 200 pounds in weight, and shoots left-handed.[1][2] Copp developed his hockey skills locally in Ann Arbor, where he also excelled in football as a star quarterback at Skyline High School, setting a state passing record with 557 yards in a single game on September 24, 2011.[3] He then played college hockey for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 2012 to 2015, appearing in 109 games and recording 47 goals and 49 assists for 96 points.[3] During his junior year in 2014–15, he led the team in scoring with 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) and was named to the Big Ten Second All-Star Team.[4][1] Selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Copp made his NHL debut with the Jets during the 2014–15 season.[1][5] He spent the majority of his early professional career with Winnipeg, accumulating 74 goals and 110 assists over 467 games from 2014 to 2022.[6] Traded to the New York Rangers at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for multiple draft picks and prospect Morgan Barron, Copp contributed significantly to New York's playoff run that year, helping the team reach the Eastern Conference Final while posting career highs of 21 goals, 32 assists, and 53 points in 72 regular-season games split between the two teams.[1][6] On July 13, 2022, he signed a five-year, $28.125 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent, where he has since recorded 33 goals and 72 assists in 235 games as of November 2025.[1][6][7] Over his NHL career spanning 718 games, Copp has tallied 115 goals and 192 assists for 307 points as of November 2025, known for his reliable two-way play and faceoff prowess.[6][7]Early life
Family background
Andrew Copp was born on July 8, 1994, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[8][5] His father, Andy Copp, served as a youth hockey coach in the Ann Arbor area, guiding Andrew and his brother through early skating experiences.[9][10] Copp's mother, Anne Marie Copp, worked as a figure skating coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines, contributing to the family's deep involvement in winter sports.[11] The Copp family emphasized multi-sport participation from a young age, encouraging Andrew and his younger brother, Tyler, to explore various athletics to build a well-rounded foundation.[12][9] This approach, influenced by both parents' coaching backgrounds, fostered physical development and versatility, with family discussions often centering on balancing interests like hockey and football.[10] Through his parents' guidance, Copp transitioned into organized hockey, skating for local youth teams under his father's coaching.[11]Youth athletics
Andrew Copp began his organized hockey career in youth leagues in the Detroit area, where his father, Andy Copp, served as his coach for several years at the Compuware program.[13] Andy emphasized physical development and skill-building from an early age, guiding Andrew through foundational training that included drills focused on skating, puck handling, and competitive play.[14] This paternal involvement not only honed Copp's technical abilities but also instilled a disciplined approach to the sport, aligning with the family's broader encouragement of athletic pursuits.[15] In 2007, at age 12, Copp represented the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team at the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, a renowned international competition for young players that has launched numerous NHL careers.[16] The event, held annually in Quebec City, featured teams from across North America and Europe, providing Copp with early exposure to high-level youth competition against skilled peers.[17] His participation underscored his emerging talent as a forward, blending speed and vision on the ice while competing in a tournament known for its fast-paced, showcase-style games. Copp attended Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, particularly as the starting quarterback for the football team.[12] Over his high school career, he set multiple passing records, including a single-game Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) mark of 557 yards in a 2011 matchup against Ann Arbor Pioneer, and earned two-time All-State honorable mention honors for his leadership and performance.[18] Football helped build his physicality, as advised by his father to complement his hockey development, allowing Copp to balance both sports through his junior year while maintaining strong showings in local hockey circuits.[19] A pivotal moment came in October 2011 during his senior football season, when Copp suffered a broken right collarbone in multiple places in a game against Bedford High School, sidelining him for the remainder of the football campaign.[20] The injury, which required surgical intervention and extended recovery, prompted Copp to prioritize hockey specialization thereafter, shifting his focus entirely to ice training and reducing multi-sport commitments to accelerate his progress in the sport he ultimately pursued professionally.[21] This transition marked the end of his high school athletic phase, reinforcing his dedication to hockey amid the family's supportive environment.[10]Playing career
Junior hockey
Copp began his junior hockey career with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), joining the Under-17 (U17) and Under-18 (U18) teams in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from 2010 to 2012. During the 2010–11 season, he recorded 1 goal and 4 assists in 24 games with the U17 team, and 1 goal in 6 games with the U18 team. In 2011–12, his production increased, as he tallied 5 goals and 6 assists in 9 U17 games, alongside 1 goal and 5 assists in 23 U18 contests. As part of the NTDP, Copp also competed in the United States Hockey League (USHL), the top junior league in the United States. In 2010–11, he posted 1 goal and 4 assists in 22 regular-season games for the U.S. National Under-18 Team, which participates in the USHL. The following season, 2011–12, he improved to 3 goals and 7 assists in 18 games. These performances highlighted his development as a two-way center known for defensive reliability and emerging offensive skills. Over his two seasons in the NTDP and USHL combined, Copp appeared in 62 games for the program, accumulating 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points. In USHL play specifically, he skated in 40 games, recording 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points. His junior tenure culminated in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets. This pick came after his second year of eligibility, recognizing his potential as a steady, versatile forward.Collegiate career
Andrew Copp enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2012, where he played forward for the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team over three seasons from 2012 to 2015. During his freshman year in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), he appeared in 38 games, recording 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points. The following season marked the Wolverines' transition to the Big Ten Conference, with Copp serving as an alternate captain and contributing 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in 33 games. His sophomore performance included earning the inaugural Big Ten First Star of the Week award in October 2013 after tallying five points in the team's opening weekend. As a junior in the 2014–15 season, Copp was elected team captain in April 2014, becoming the first Ann Arbor native to hold the position since 2001. He led the team with strong two-way play, finishing third in team scoring with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 36 games, while also earning Big Ten Second-Team All-Star honors. Over his collegiate career, Copp accumulated 81 points (40 goals, 41 assists) in 107 games, helping the Wolverines reach the NCAA Tournament each year. On March 26, 2015, following the conclusion of his junior season, Copp signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets, the team that had drafted him 104th overall in 2013, and transitioned to professional hockey.Winnipeg Jets
Copp signed an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets in March 2015 after forgoing his senior year at the University of Michigan, making his NHL debut on April 11, 2015, in a 5–1 win against the Calgary Flames, where he recorded his first career point with an assist and won 12 of 18 face-offs. In his rookie 2015–16 season, he appeared in 77 games as a bottom-six forward, contributing 7 goals and 6 assists while posting a +8 rating and averaging 10:16 of ice time per game, establishing himself as a reliable defensive presence. Over the following seasons, Copp's role expanded steadily; by 2017–18, he logged 82 games with 9 goals and 19 assists, achieving a team-leading +17 rating and increasing his average ice time to over 14 minutes. In July 2017, Copp signed a two-year contract extension with the Jets worth $2 million, securing his place in the lineup through the 2018–19 season. He continued to progress into a versatile middle-six center, reaching career benchmarks in 2019–20 with 10 goals and 16 assists in 63 games despite a team-worst -3 rating amid injuries. The 2020–21 season marked a breakout, as Copp tallied 15 goals and 24 assists in 55 games with a +2 rating, solidifying his value on the Jets' top lines. Heading into 2021–22, he built on this momentum with 13 goals and 22 assists in 56 games before the trade deadline, en route to a career-high 53 points across the split season between Winnipeg and New York. Copp made key contributions during the Jets' postseason runs, debuting in the 2018 playoffs where Winnipeg advanced to the Western Conference Final. He played all 16 games, registering 1 goal and 2 assists while providing shutdown minutes against top opponents. In the 2021 playoffs, during the Jets' second-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Copp appeared in 8 games, adding 2 assists and logging significant defensive-zone starts to help stabilize the bottom six. On March 21, 2022, the Jets traded Copp and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Morgan Barron, a conditional 2022 second-round pick, a conditional 2023 second-round pick, and a 2023 fifth-round pick. This move capped his seven-year tenure with Winnipeg, where he evolved from a prospect to a cornerstone two-way center.New York Rangers
On March 21, 2022, the New York Rangers acquired center Andrew Copp and a 2023 sixth-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets in a trade deadline deal that sent forward Morgan Barron, a conditional 2022 second-round pick, a conditional 2023 second-round pick, and a 2023 fifth-round pick to Winnipeg. Copp, who was completing the final year of a one-year, $3.64 million contract originally signed with the Jets in August 2021, joined the Rangers as a versatile middle-six forward known for his two-way play. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal as a Ranger just four days later on March 25, 2022, in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. In the remainder of the 2021–22 regular season, Copp appeared in 16 games for the Rangers, recording 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points while posting a plus-13 rating, contributing to New York's push for a playoff spot. His scoring touch carried into the postseason, where he tallied 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points in 20 games, including a natural hat trick in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Copp's reliable faceoff work and defensive contributions helped bolster the Rangers' forward depth as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, ultimately falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. As an unrestricted free agent following the playoffs, Copp departed the Rangers on July 13, 2022, signing a five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. His brief tenure with New York highlighted his ability to seamlessly integrate into a contending lineup, providing timely offense and stability during a crucial late-season stretch.Detroit Red Wings
Andrew Copp signed a five-year, $28.125 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 13, 2022, marking his return to his hometown area in Michigan after entering free agency from the New York Rangers. The deal carried an average annual value of $5.625 million and positioned him as a key addition to the team's rebuilding efforts. As a two-way center and penalty kill specialist, Copp has adapted to the Red Wings' young roster by providing defensive reliability and faceoff wins, often logging heavy minutes in shorthanded situations during the team's transitional phase. In his debut 2022–23 season, he recorded 9 goals and 33 assists for 42 points in 82 games, contributing to the team's bottom-six forward group. The following year, 2023–24, saw him tally 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in 79 games, maintaining his role amid lineup adjustments. In 2024–25, Copp amassed 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 56 games before suffering a pectoral injury. On February 23, 2025, Copp sustained a torn left pectoral tendon during a game, leading to surgery on February 25 that ended his season. The procedure, performed successfully, carried an expected recovery of 4–6 months, allowing him to return for the 2025–26 season. As of November 16, 2025, Copp has resumed play with the Red Wings, logging 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points in 18 games while continuing his defensive duties.International career
Junior level
Andrew Copp began his international junior career with the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP), where his performance helped secure invitations to key under-20 tournaments.[5] In 2012, Copp represented the USA at the Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Piešťany, Slovakia, as part of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, which captured first place in the four-team event.[22][3] Specific individual statistics from the tournament are not widely documented, but his inclusion on the roster marked an early international milestone during his NTDP tenure. Copp's most prominent junior international appearance came at the 2012 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Brno and Breclav, Czech Republic, where he played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team that defeated Sweden 7–0 in the final. Over six games, he recorded one assist and no goals, contributing to the team's dominant performance that included a semifinal victory over Canada.[23] Copp returned for Team USA at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships in Malmö, Sweden, appearing in five games during the preliminary round and quarterfinals, where the U.S. finished fifth after a 5–3 loss to Russia.[24] He tallied five assists and no goals for five points, tying for the team lead in assists and earning recognition as one of the top three U.S. players at the tournament.[25][1] Across his major junior international tournaments at the U18 and U20 levels, Copp played 11 games, accumulating six points (zero goals, six assists).Senior level
Copp made his senior international debut with Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Germany and France, where he appeared in eight games, recording one goal and a plus-three rating as the United States finished fifth.[26][27] This opportunity arose during the offseason following his third NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets, allowing him to represent his country amid a demanding professional schedule.[28] Despite his solid NHL performance as a reliable two-way center, Copp has not been selected for subsequent senior international events, including the IIHF World Championships from 2018 onward, due to intense competition for roster spots from other American forwards and his primary role in penalty-kill and defensive-zone starts rather than offensive stardom. NHL scheduling conflicts, such as playoffs, have further limited availability for tournaments like the World Championships, which often overlap with the postseason. He was also not chosen for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, held in February, as Team USA prioritized players with higher point production and star power in a condensed best-on-best format. As an American-born player, Copp remains eligible to represent the United States in future senior competitions, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, where NHL participation is expected to resume, potentially offering another chance given his experience and defensive reliability.Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Andrew Copp has played 718 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL) over 12 seasons, accumulating 115 goals, 192 assists, and 307 points, with a plus/minus rating of +67 and 159 penalty minutes (as of November 16, 2025).[6]Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | WPG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | WPG | 77 | 7 | 6 | 13 | +8 | 6 |
| 2016–17 | WPG | 64 | 9 | 8 | 17 | +8 | 18 |
| 2017–18 | WPG | 82 | 9 | 19 | 28 | +17 | 14 |
| 2018–19 | WPG | 69 | 11 | 14 | 25 | +20 | 6 |
| 2019–20 | WPG | 63 | 10 | 16 | 26 | –3 | 10 |
| 2020–21 | WPG | 55 | 15 | 24 | 39 | +2 | 20 |
| 2021–22 | WPG/NYR | 72 | 21 | 32 | 53 | +15 | 16 |
| 2022–23 | DET | 82 | 9 | 33 | 42 | +2 | 25 |
| 2023–24 | DET | 79 | 13 | 20 | 33 | –2 | 26 |
| 2024–25 | DET | 56 | 10 | 13 | 23 | +4 | 8 |
| 2025–26 | DET | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | –6 | 10 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | WPG | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | –1 | 4 |
| 2018–19 | WPG | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +3 | 2 |
| 2019–20 | WPG | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | –2 | 4 |
| 2020–21 | WPG | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | –3 | 4 |
| 2021–22 | NYR | 20 | 6 | 8 | 14 | –2 | 2 |
International
Copp represented the United States at three junior international tournaments, accumulating limited offensive production across 14 games.[5]| Tournament | Year | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament | 2011 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| IIHF World U18 Championship | 2012 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| IIHF World Junior Championship | 2014 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |